Source: Daily_Mail
The Alternative List: Boffins pick their 50-41 of the best British footballers to play abroad
Click here to check out Sportsmail's Nos 50-41[LNB]Sportsmail celebrates the top 50 Brits to have played abroad in our always entertaining, ever-controversial latest instalment of The List.[LNB]Don't agree with our selection? Neither do the boffins at Championship Manager, who've selected their own roll call of excellence.[LNB]Read Nos 50-41 below and then click here to compare it against our offering...[LNB]CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER'S BEST BRITS ABROAD - 50-41A hit: Sharpe with Abi Titmuss in Fiji[LNB]50 Lee Sharpe (Sampdoria, Grindavik)After spending eight years at Manchester United and two not so good years at Leeds, Sharpe was loaned out by the latter to Sampdoria where he managed to rack up only three appearances for the Italian side. In 2003, Sharpe signed for Icelandic team Grindavik, making only seven appearances for the club. However, he made more of an impression in Fiji - wooing the ladies on Celebrity Love Island![LNB][LNB]Check out the Championship Manager website, by logging on to: www.championshipmanager.co.uk[LNB] HAVE YOUR SAY... Who is the most successful British footballer to play abroad? David Beckham has finally extended his loan spell at Italian giants AC Milan after impressing during his short stay. The England international has also played at Real Madrid and LA Galaxy but where does he rank against other British stars to try their luck in Europe and beyond?[LNB][LNB]TELL US WHAT YOU THINK[LNB] 49 Neil Franklin (Independiente Santa Fe)Franklin played for Stoke City, but in 1950 he broke his contract and left England for Colombia, to play for Independiente Santa Fe but shockingly moved back to England after just four weeks and six games. [LNB]On his return to England, Franklin was immediately suspended by the FA and later refused permission by his club to train with them. [LNB]A suspension from the league football followed and he never added to his 27 full English caps . [LNB]Later in 1951, he moved to Hull City and subsequently had brief spells with Crewe Alexandra, Stockport County and Macclesfield Town.[LNB]48 Charlie Mitten (Independiente Santa Fe) Joined the Colombian club in 1950. His nickname was the 'Bogota Bandit'. Mitten was such an impressive player that Real Madrid offered him a contract but he turned it down to return to England.[LNB] THE LIST: Sportsmail's 50-41 of the best British footballers to play abroad[LNB]HAVE YOUR SAY: Who is the most successful Brit to have played abroad?[LNB]The Championship Manager website[LNB][LNB]47 Kevin Campbell (Trabzonspor)After 23 goals in the 1997-98 season for Nottingham Forest he moved to Turkey to join Trabzonspor. His time at the club was brief though and he left the club after only seven months following a racist incident involving the president of the club. Campbell scored a respectable five goals in 17 games and was very popular with the fans, but quickly secured a move back home to Everton.[LNB]46 Gordon Banks (Fort Lauderdale Strikers)Perhaps not his finest move, Banks (left) came out of retirement in 1977 to play for Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Despite being blind in one eye from a car accident in 1972, he played 39 games in the NASL.[LNB]45 Scott Minto (Benfica)Made 31 appearances for Benfica after joining them on a free transfer in 1997 shortly after winning the FA Cup with Chelsea. He stayed at Benfica for a successful 18 months until West Ham signed him for £1m in January 1999.[LNB]44 Ian Rush (Juventus) Despite his huge success at Liverpool, Ian Rush decided to join Juventus for £3m in 1987. Like many players, Rush found settling in another country difficult, allegedly he infamously remarked 'it's like playing in a foreign country'. Compared to his glory days at Liverpool his time at Juventus was poor managing to score only seven goals in 29 matches. At the end of the season he returned to Liverpool.[LNB]43 Paul Elliott (Pisa Calcio)A gifted centre back with pace had a spell with Italian club Pisa Calcio, having already played for Charlton, Luton and Villa. Celtic bought him back to the UK after he made 23 appearances in Italy. A serious knee injury sustained whilst playing for Chelsea ended his career in 1992. [LNB]42 Luther Blissett (AC Milan) Was playing for Watford when AC Milan signed him for £1m in 1983. Blissett (pictured with Graham Taylor) was a flop in Italy scoring just five goals in the entire season. Milan quickly realised they had made a mistake and shipped him back to Watford at a loss the following summer. Rumours have since stated that Milan were meant to buy John Barnes and not Blissett, but mistakenly singed the wrong player. [LNB]41 Darren Huckerby (San Jose Earthquakes)Having already played for nine English sides, the pacey Huckerby joined San Jose Earthquakes in 2008 and played 14 games scoring six times and was voted MSL New Comer of the Year award.[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB] Check out the Championship Manager website, by logging on to: www.championshipmanager.co.uk[LNB] THE LIST: Sportsmail's 50-41 of the best British footballers to play abroad[LNB]HAVE YOUR SAY: Who is the most successful Brit to have played abroad?[LNB]The Championship Manager website[LNB][LNB]
